Enough energy to power the entire city of New York

That’s about how much energy was in the room last night at In Good Company when the women of Collective-E hosted their launch party last evening.

Beth looked amazing in her custom designed dress, Sabina totally stunning (thanks to her “stylist”) and Katie positively beaming (and not because David was in the room!). These three amazing ladies have embarked upon a journey to organize the most energetic, movers and shakers of the female entrepreneurial world.

We are the young and the not so young. We are launchers and we are veteran businesswomen. We are brilliant lawyers like Renee L. Duff, delectable confectioners like Jill Frechtman, budding etailers like Arlene Abrams of Bubbelove and many other wonderful and exciting doers and dreamers. We come from all walks of life, all economic backgrounds, all levels of education and all forms of business but we share one thing in common – the desire to work together to see each other succeed and flourish.

It was great to finally put names and avatars to faces and people. For those Twitters – yes @KatjaPresnal does look exactly like her avatar!

The internet and the phone are sometimes so impersonal – nothing can beat the warmth of a smile and the embrace of a cyber friend. As a home based business my interaction with other entrepreneurs is limited to say the least. I look forward to these meetings to meet up with others who share the same goals, values and missions that I do. Female entrepreneurs are a rare breed – we march to the beat of a different drum – the drum only another female entrepreneur can hear.

It was so good to see my good friend Joanne Morton out and about spreading Magic Passion Love to all the party goers. Joanne is also showing her amazing art work at Lolita in lower Manhattan now through November 2nd. Stop in to say hello and see her talent in action if you are in the area.

You know it is always good to see Jeanette from Aunt Jeans Toys and Treasures and fellow former incubator members Marion Cage and Kristin Winnicki socially and in a non-tradeshow environment.

When the night was coming to a close I was sad – this was such a happy, energetic evening that I didn’t want to see it end – but it is not the end – it is just the beginning – I do believe that this is the start of something good…………….

Vote for Just Bubbly!

Just Bubbly has been nominated as StartupNations Home Based Small Business of 2008. Cast your vote every day until the end of the contest to show your support!

Bug In Your Soap are In The news!

Hi everyone

Well I have survived the New York Gift Show. It was long and very busy. Update on the show will be posted early next week as soon as I get everything organized. So many buyers so much interest!

Well here is the latest.

Just Bubbly Bugs In Your Soap is this weekends featured product at NeatoStuff.com - a very cool and exciting website featuring unique upscale gifts and personal items. Check it out if you get a chance!

Come on in and say hello!

You would imagine that after all these years (24 to be exact) of exhibiting at the New York Gift Show that I would be used to the dire heat in the Javits during setup. Once again- true to form it was at least a hundred degrees in the Javits Convention Center today while I was designing and setting up the booth for the summer New York International Gift Show. Despite the heat and non circulation of air I was able to once again display all the fun and unique handcrafted soaps and bath creations that the retailers have come to buy for the upcoming holiday season. In addition to the ever favorite seasonal soaps like our Gingerbread Man soap and our Candy Cane Designer Soapsicles we will once again be showcasing our Halloween Seasonal Soaps including the scrumptiously scent packed Pumpkin and Ghost Soaps, Candy Cane Soapsicles, Monster Mash and Halloween Monster Ducks! So if you are in the neighborhood of Booth 1753 stop on in and say hello! I'll be there from Sunday through Thursday meeting and greeting all my wonderful and loyal customers.

The New Shop!

Well after months and months of waiting and planning and painting and working it is finally complete. Our new shop! It is wonderful. It is spacious. It is quiet and heavenly. We have designated stations, windows, cabinets for storing, stainless steel tables, above head storage and even a fridge. Above is a view of my creation station. Below is the packaging station where all our soaps are carefully bagged and tagged, then shipped to you. Also below is the creation station where all the wonderful Just Bubbly goodies are made. Considering that we spend 12 hours a day - every day in here I guess it is my home away from home!

Halloween is a howling!

Here is a small sampling of this years Halloween Collection. From Ghosts and Pumpkin soaps scented "Trick or Treat" to Candy Corn scented Soapsicles to our famous Monster Mash Room Spray which is guaranteed to get rid of all monsters we have something for everyone. Halloween Ducks and Mad Scientist Ducks add personality to our display.

Back From Philly

Well I am back from the Philadelphia Gift Show and I am pleased to announce that is was a huge success. The buyers were out and ready to buy. There were very few signs that we are in a recession at this gift show. Lots of new orders and lots of reorders. The newest of he products were ordered in record amounts! Buyer confidence was amazing as was the energy at the show. Now to get busy and get everyone shipped! New York Gift Show is in 3 weeks!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all....

Another year - another Mother's Day.
It is a beautiful day here in New York - a bit cool and windy but beautiful just the same.
I hope you all have a wonderful and enjoyable Mother's Day!

Mariann

So many interesting people, so much information (and a little fun too)!

Well the conference is over and well worth the trip. It was long enough that I missed my home and my family, but not too long that I really miss some of the wonderful people that I met there. I met over 200 of the most amazing soapmakers you could ever imagine all gathered in one place!
Workshops and lectures about everything that effects the soapmakers industry and business in general from some of the foremost experts in their fields. The amazingly talented Sandy Maine from Sunfeather Soaps was the keynote speaker. She is truly an inspiration to women business owners as well as soapmakers. There was a speaker on Quality Control, Packaging, Product Labeling and demos! New techniques for new product ideas and info on eco-friendly were some of the highlights I tuned into. We got a new shrinking machine to help save time wrapping our soaps. This will lead to savings for all our customers in this hard economic time. I gathered so much information that it will take me weeks to absorb it all. But believe me - once I do - it will benefit all aspects of Just Bubbly. I will be posting different ideas from the conference in the upcoming weeks. So look for the subtle changes in the upcoming future.

Happy Days!

Mariann

Goin' to the Conference!

Well I am actually going away this weekend. It's kinda business and kinda fun. I will be attending the Handcrafted SoapMakers Guild annual conference in Burlington Vermont. It is scheduled to be filled with many soap makers and hopefully we can all exchange ideas and talk about the current state of events. As you can see, if you look at the bottom of every webpage, it is the focus of Just Bubbly™ to be more earth friendly or "green" in 2008. There are a lot of "biggies" scheduled to be there too - many of which are pioneers in the earth friendly field. Hopefully I will come back not only with wonderful ways to help the earth, but very rested too!

St Patrick’s Day Parade of Bubbles!

St. Patrick’s Day soaps and bath novelties designed to bring the Luck ‘O The Irish to all.

Relax as you enjoy the fragrance of your favorite Irish Liquor! Each plastic liquor bottle is filled with 8 oz. of our famous highly fragranced Irish Crème bubble bath. Simply add a bit to your bath, sit back and relax while the bubbles take you to another world.






For our younger audience how about an Irish Soap Duckie.
Available in one of four different leprechaun-like duckies these little guys are sure to be a hit for children of all ages.
Orders need to be placed by March 11th to ensure delivery by St. Patrick's Day.

Live on ABC.com

Here is the link to the live online segment from yesterday!

Click on the picture to be taken there!

Champagne Bubble Bath and Valentines Day Duckies were a hit!

Valentines Day Items to be featured on abc.com Monday February 11, 2008

http://www.abc.com/ will be showing some of the latest Valentines Day bath and body creations from Just Bubbly™ live on Monday at 4pm and then all week on their website. Pop in to see our items as well as other Valentines Day gift possibilities available from other creative designers.

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, there is still enough time to get your romantic gift for that special someone. Romantic Kisses, Love, Champagne Dreams, and White Zinfandel are just a few of the fragrances of our Champagne Bubble Bath that are available for you to make that Valentine’s evening extra special.

If bubble bath is not what your little Valentine is looking to receive—check out our Valentine Soap Duckie. Available in pink or red soap base and boy or girl duckie, these little guys are sure to be a hit for children of all ages.

To be sure that your Valentines soaps or bubble bath arrives in time - be sure to order no later than Tuesday February 12th.

Happy Holidays from Bryant Park

Well we are open for business in Bryant Park! Stop in and visit us - stock up on your holiday needs or just say hello! We are on the 40th Street and 6th Avenue side of the park. Spot A4 to be exact. We are stocked with new and exciting holiday items and the long awaited HOCKEY DUCKS are finally here. Come in and grab your stocking stuffers or teacher gift or maybe something for yourself and say hello to Ariana!

Getting Ready!

Halloween is coming soon and we are ready. Our soap duckies are all dressed and ready to become the treats for the treaters who come a calling on you. We have added new finger puppets to our small oval soaps including ghosts, witches and mummys to name a few. Check them out at http://www.justbubbly.com/seasonal_soaps.html


The news of the day is we signed the agreement to be a part of the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park 2007! With the holiday season rapidly approaching we are busy getting ready for our storefront on 6th Avenue and 41st Street. This is our second season in the park and it promises to be even bigger this year. Be sure to keep checking here for coupons, discounts and announcements regarding our booth at the Bryant Park Fete de Noel.

Mother's Day is around the corner!

Hi All!
With Mother's Day less than a month away it's time to stat thinking about that special gift for Mom and the other important ladies in our lives. Just in time for this special date we have some new fragrances and some "Mom" gifts. New to the Spring Lineup is the popular Fresh Ginger-Lime Fragrance. This is a clean spring fragrance with a hint of lime to add to that clean feelin we all want from our Bath and Body goodies. Revitalizing Rosemary and Mint is another new fragrance available in all of our Relaxation Station products. On a sweeter note we will be offering for a limited time Honey and Almond fragrance. Our newest products for Mom and all the others in you life include single use satin rose petal soaps gift boxed in a clear box tied up with an organza bow, revitalizing foaming body polish, and spa collection shampoos and conditioners. If you have any suggestions or comments - please feel free to post them! Happy and sunny spring!

Mariann

Monday April 17, 2006

Welcome to the Just Bubbbly Blog - a place where you can ask and we can answer your questions and take your suggestions! We will try and keep this updated on a weekly basis - but as many of you know that may be impossible! Check here often for new products, sales, features and advanced notification for upcoming events. I hope you enjoy it here!

Mariann